Monsignor Thomas Barrett Armstrong
Monsignor Thomas Barrett Armstrong, a Toronto priest, long-time teacher and choir director at St. Michael’s Choir school, and fervent pro-lifer, died Nov. 14, days before his 80th birthday.
He is credited by St. Michael’s Choir School with “engender(ing) a love for music in the hearts of hundreds of students who passed through” the school from 1958 to 2004. He was director of music at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Toronto, composed music for liturgy and in 2002 received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for his contribution to music in Canada. He taught such well-known talents as John McDermott and Michael Burgess.
He was described as an exemplary priest and the funerary pamphlet noted he had been “a consistent supporter of the pro-life movement.”
Campaign Life Coalition national president Jim Hughes knew Msgr. Armstrong and applauded his commitment to the pro-life cause. He recalled that once when the choir school raised money for a hospital that did abortions, Msgr. Armstrong had St. Michael’s change their policy to ensure that they never would raise money for hospitals that did not uphold the sanctity of human life.
In the mid-1980s, Msgr. Armstrong helped organize a fundraising concert at Massey Hall that raised more than $10,000 for Campaign Life, money that Hughes said was critically needed at the time.
Yet, Hughes’ favourite story about Msgr. Armstrong’s pro-life involvement was the one about how he talked a famous St. Michael’s Choir School alumnus from singing at Henry Morgentaler’s birthday party just a few years ago.
“He was a great guy, a wonderful musician, and a terrific priest,” Hughes told The Interim. “The world needs more priests like Msgr. Barrett Armstrong.” Then Hughes corrected himself: “No more priests like Barrett Armstrong. More people.”
He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Mary and Rita Armstrong, and ten nieces and nephews.